We respect Pakistans sovereignty, but drone attacks are vital: Gates

In a wide-ranging interview with CNN, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said the relationship between the US and Pakistan is much improved. And Gates said, in his opinion, the international community needs to move swiftly to pass a United Nations resolution backing sanctions on Iran.The Pakistanis are very sensitive to the size of the American footprint, the number of Americans on the ground in a training capacity or whatever, Gates said in an interview that aired on CNN. They're also extremely sensitive about their sovereignty. And we have to respect those things. So I think those are things that we're working our way through, but frankly, as I have just indicated, I think the relationship has been improving significantly, and I expect that to continue, Gates said. On the Obama administration's little acknowledged but widely reported use of remotely-piloted drone plane attacks in Pakistani territory, Gates gave few details. I would just say we are doing what we need to do, the Defence secretary told.